Creative Futures Academy (CFA) are delighted to announce the launch of Trapdoor @ UCD, a newly developed ‘black box’ theatre based at University College Dublin’s Belfield campus.

The former UCD Dramsoc theatre venue in the Newman Building will once again take centre stage when it comes to student creativity, production and performance. It will serve as the new home of the Creative Futures Academy (CFA) in UCD, under the directorship of Professor P.J. Mathews, from the UCD School of English, Drama and Film. It will connect industry practitioners with students dedicated to flexing their creative talent.

“This will be a game-changer for the Creative Futures Academy at UCD,” said Professor P.J. Mathews. “A unique space dedicated to the development of creative talent, and fitted-out to industry standard, will ensure our students have the best chance of success in whatever path they choose”.

Louise Allen, CFA Director noted “Trapdoor represents the tangible realisation of the importance of cultural expression and education. This state-of-the-art facility will nurture the creative talent and skills of generations to come. I look forward to experiencing the excitement and wonder arising from works developed here by our future producers, writers, directors, and performers.”

Funded by UCD and the HEA Human Capital Initiative, Trapdoor was developed alongside an experimental creative arts and performance media lab, which will provide students the opportunity to develop skills in digital content creation, production, design, and cultivate their talent in the best way possible – learning by doing.

In celebration at the opening of Trapdoor @UCD, we were excited to welcome Sir Steve McQueen as one of our first guests to a workshop in the space with students from NCAD, IADT & UCD led by Dr Nicolas Pillai, UCD’s CFA academic lead and programme leader of our MA Writing for Stage & Screen.

McQueen’s career spans the worlds of installation and video art, Hollywood feature films, television production for drama and factual, screenwriting and directing. He is an embodiment of the values to which CFA aspires.

This event was delivered in association with the Dublin International Film Festival.